Statement of the American Lung Association

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2014)—

In response to the decision released today by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule – a commonsense clean air safeguard that follows the “good neighbor” principle established in the Clean Air Act to cut pollution that blows across the borders of 28 eastern states– the American Lung Association (an intervener in the case) released the following statement:

“Millions of Americans will breathe easier, thanks to the decision today by the U.S. Supreme Court that will finally curtail ‘second-hand smog’ – ozone smog and particle pollution blown across state borders far from their sources, threatening lives and health.

“The Clean Air Act directs power plants to behave like ‘good neighbors,’ and clean up their pollution that blows into neighboring states. For too long that did not happen, and states struggled to protect their citizens from dirty air blown across their borders. Life-threatening ozone and particle pollution, created by emissions from these plants, traveled far from their sources harming public health. Thanks to this decision, that will finally change.

“People who live downwind of these major polluters need this decision, because the ozone and particle pollution in their communities threatens their lives. When this rule was adopted in 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that the pollution from these power plants caused 34,000 premature deaths each year and triggered more than 400,000 asthma attacks, as well as sent 19,000 people to the hospital or emergency department and caused 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks. The people in these 28 states needed the EPA to enforce the law and protect them from pollution.

“The American Lung Association urges power companies to move forward with implementing this life-saving standard and begin to clean up their emissions immediately.”

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About the American Lung AssociationThe American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.